Apparatus and method for maintaining immersion fluid in the gap under the projection lens during wafer exchange in an immersion lithography machine
First Claim
1. A liquid immersion exposure apparatus in which a substrate is exposed to an exposure beam, the apparatus comprising:
- an optical member through which the substrate is exposed to the exposure beam;
a cover member having a surface;
a first holding system that detachably holds the cover member; and
a second holding system that holds the cover member which is released from the first holding system, wherein the surface of the cover member held by the second holding system is opposite to the optical member in place of the substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method maintain immersion fluid in the gap adjacent to the projection lens during the exchange of a work piece in a lithography machine. The apparatus and method include an optical assembly that projects an image onto a work piece and a stage assembly including a work piece table that supports the work piece adjacent to the optical assembly. An environmental system is provided to supply and remove an immersion fluid from the gap between the optical assembly and the work piece on the stage assembly. After exposure of the work piece is complete, an exchange system removes the work piece and replaces it with a second work piece. An immersion fluid containment system maintains the immersion liquid in the gap during removal of the first work piece and replacement with the second work piece.
356 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A liquid immersion exposure apparatus in which a substrate is exposed to an exposure beam, the apparatus comprising:
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an optical member through which the substrate is exposed to the exposure beam; a cover member having a surface; a first holding system that detachably holds the cover member; and a second holding system that holds the cover member which is released from the first holding system, wherein the surface of the cover member held by the second holding system is opposite to the optical member in place of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A liquid immersion exposure method in which a substrate is exposed to an exposure beam, the method comprising:
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providing the substrate opposite to an optical member; releasing a cover member from a first holding system; and holding the cover member released from the first holding system by a second holding system so that the cover member is opposite to the optical member in place of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A device manufacturing method comprising:
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providing a substrate opposite to an optical member through which the substrate is exposed to an exposure beam; releasing a cover member from a first holding system; and holding the cover member released from the first holding system by a second holding system so that a surface of the cover member is opposite to the optical member in place of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A liquid immersion exposure apparatus comprising:
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an optical member through which a substrate is exposed; a stage assembly including a substrate table that retains the substrate; and a cover member having a surface, wherein the cover member and the substrate table are relatively movable, and wherein the cover member is positioned under the optical member by using the stage assembly in place of the substrate table to substantially maintain an immersion liquid in a space under the optical member when the substrate table is moved away from under the optical member. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A liquid immersion exposure method in which a substrate is exposed to an exposure beam, the method comprising:
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providing the substrate, retained on a substrate table of a stage assembly, opposite to an optical member; moving the substrate table away from under the optical member by using the stage assembly; and positioning a cover member, by using the stage assembly, opposite to the optical member in place of the substrate table when the substrate table is moved away from under the optical member to substantially maintain an immersion liquid in a space under the optical member, the cover member being different from the substrate table, and the cover member and the substrate table being relatively movable. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A device manufacturing method in which a substrate is exposed to an exposure beam, the method comprising:
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providing the substrate, retained on a substrate table of a stage assembly, opposite to an optical member; moving the substrate table away from under the optical member by using the stage assembly; and positioning a cover member, by using the stage assembly, opposite to the optical member in place of the substrate table when the substrate table is moved away from under the optical member to substantially maintain an immersion liquid in a space under the optical member, the cover member being different from the substrate table, and the cover member and the substrate table being relatively movable. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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Specification